Flag used between 1918 and 1921 and
readopted 24 August 1990 (with modified proportions), coat of arms used between 1918 and 1921 and readopted 24 August 1990.Proportions: 1:2Description: Horizontally divided red-blue-orange.Use:on land, as the civil, state and war flag.

The national symbols in the Constitution of Armenia

The symbols of Armenia are prescribed in Article 13 of the Constitution of Armenia, adopted in 1995, as follows:

The flag of the Republic of Armenia is tricolor
made of three horizontal and equal stripes of red, blue, and
orange.
The coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia
depicts, in the center on a shield, Mount Ararat with Noah's ark and
the coats of arms of the four kingdoms of historical Armenia. The
shield is supported by a lion and an eagle while a sword, a branch, a
sheaf, a chain and a ribbon are portrayed under the shield.
The national anthem of the Republic of Armenia is "Our
Fatherland".
The capital of the Republic of Armenia is Yerevan.

Gvido Petersons, 11 August 2000

Law on the flag of Armenia

The "Declaration about Independence of
Armenia" was adopted on 23 August 1990; the Law "About
the national flag of the Republic of Armenia" (No C-0076-1) was adopted by
the Supreme Council on the next day, 24 August 1990.
The Law prescribes the national flag of Armenia as a rectangular panel of proportions 1:2, with three equal horizontal stripes of red, blue and orange colours (from top to
bottom).

Victor Lomantsov, 2 March 2002

Following the Constitutional reform of 27 November 2005, Law No. 149 "On the National Flag of Armenia" was adopted on 15 June 2006 by
the Parliament and signed on 4 July 2006 by the President of the Republic, Robert Kocharian (unofficial translation).

[...]

Article 2. The Flag of the Republic of Armenia.
The Flag of the Republic of Armenia is one of the state symbols of the
Republic of Armenia.
The Flag of the Republic of Armenia is tricoloured, red, blue and
orange horizontal equal stripes from top to bottom. The red colour
symbolizes the Armenian highland, and the constant fight of the
Armenian people for longevity, the Christian religion, and the
independence and freedom of Armenia. The blue colour symbolizes the
will of the Armenian people to live peacefully under a blue sky. The
orange colour symbolizes the creative talent and diligence of the
Armenian people. The ratio of the width to the length of the flag is
1:2. Foreseen by this present passage, by the preservation of the
ratio of the flag of the Republic of Armenia a smaller or larger flag
can be also used.
A coloured image of the flag of the Republic of Armenia is shown in
the Supplement, forming a component of the present Law.

Article 3. The Use of the flag of the Republic of Armenia.
The flag of the Republic of Armenia is always on display on buildings
of the Residence of the President of the Republic of Armenia, the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia, the Courts of the Republic of Armenia, the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Armenia, the Human Rights Defender, the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia, the Executive Bodies of the Republic of Armenia, the other Bodies of the State Governance, and constantly functioning bodies (services, councils, committees) created by the Law of the Republic of Armenia, Territorial Management and Local Self-Government Bodies (including the building of the Municipality of Yerevan) of the Republic of Armenia.
The flag of the Republic of Armenia, in compliance with the
international rights and norms, diplomacy protocols and the
traditions of the receiving states, shall constantly be hoisted in
display on the buildings of Diplomatic Service Bodies (embassies,
representatives, consular institutions) in the Republic of Armenia and
on other state representative buildings of the Republic of Armenia.
The flag of the Republic of Armenia is hoisted during the opening
ceremonies of official championships and lowered during the closing
ceremonies.
The flag of the Republic of Armenia is always located in the halls
used for official, labour and solemn ceremonies, in the halls of the
Residence of the President of the Republic of Armenia, National
Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Government of the Republic of
Armenia, in the Court rooms of the judicial meetings of the Courts of
the Republic of Armenia and the meeting halls of the Central Electoral
Committee of the Republic of Armenia.
The flag of the Republic of Armenia is located in one of the halls or
lobbies of the Residence of the President of the Republic of Armenia,
President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, and
other bodies of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia,
Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, President of the
Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia, Head of the Staff of
the President of the Republic of Armenia, Head of the Staff of the
Government of the Republic of Armenia, Head of the Staff of the
National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Chairman of the Central
Bank of the Republic of Armenia, President of the Control Chamber of
the Republic of Armenia, Human Rights Defender, Republican Executive
Bodies, authorities of other bodies of state governance, heads of the
standing bodies, created by Law of the Republic of Armenia (services,
councils, committees), judges, prosecutors of the Republic of
Armenia, authorities of the Territorial Management and Local Self-
Government Bodies (including the building of the Municipality of
Yerevan,) in the offices of the authorities of diplomacy service
bodies of the Republic of Armenia located in the territories of
foreign states (representatives of embassies, consulate institutions)
and in one of the halls or lobbies of the educational institutions.
Besides the cases foreseen by this article, the flag of the Republic
of Armenia can be located in other places, on buildings, constructions
and dwellings.
The flag of the Republic of Armenia, according to the state protocol
core provisions, can be attached on the vehicles of the President of
the Republic of Armenia, on the vehicles of the President of the
National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Prime Minister of the
Republic of Armenia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Armenia only during the visits of the foreign delegations, as well as
according to the protocol of the receiving countries the flag of the
Republic of Armenia can be attached on the vehicles of the authorities
of the official delegations and authorities of diplomacy and regular
representatives of the Republic of Armenia.
The swearing in ceremony of persons for constitutional posts, or other
persons, defined by the Law of the Republic of Armenia is performed
under the flag of the Republic of Armenia.
Besides the cases, foreseen by this article, regulations for the use
and display of the flag and the image of the flag of the Republic of
Armenia are defined by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

Article 4. The Hoisting, Lowering and Transferring of the Flag of the
Republic of Armenia.
The protocol of hoisting, lowering and transferring of the flag of the
Republic of Armenia is defined by the Government of the Republic of
Armenia. The flag of the Republic of Armenia is lowered during
officially declared mourning days or mourning ceremonies. The flag is
lowered to the middle of the flagstaff. Black ribbon is attached above
the flag, the length of which is equal with the length of the flag.

Article 5. The Use of the Flag of the Republic of Armenia during the
Mourning Ceremonies.
In the cases defined by the Government of the Republic of Armenia,
during funeral services aiming to pay military tribute to a deceased
citizen, the body and the coffin of the deceased are covered with the
flag of the Republic of Armenia. Before burial, the flag of the
Republic of Armenia is presented to the relatives of the dead.

Article 6. The Use of the Flag of the Republic of Armenia with the
Flag of a Foreign State in the Territory of the Republic of Armenia.
When it is necessary to hoist the flag of the Republic of Armenia
simultaneously with the flag of a foreign State in the territory of
the Republic of Armenia, the flag of the Republic of Armenia should be
raised from the left side of the building (as viewed facing the
building.) While at the same time some odd numbered flags are hoisted
the flag of the Republic of Armenia should be hoisted in the middle of
them.
If even numbered flags (more than two) are raised, the flag of the
Republic of Armenia should be raised left from the middle.
In case the flag of the Republic of Armenia is simultaneously raised
with the flags of the foreign countries the ratio of the flags of
other countries should not be larger than the flag of the Republic of
Armenia.

Article 7. The Requirements to the Flag of the Republic of Armenia.
The raised flag of the Republic of Armenia should be a complete one,
clean and not pale and the bottom of the flag should be raised from
the ground not less than 2.5 meters.
The ratio of the length of the flag to the flag staff should be not
less than 1: 1,7.
In case the flag of the Republic of Armenia is hung perpendicularly it
should be turned 90 degrees in counter clockwise direction so that
when facing the flag the sequence of colours of red, blue and orange
is not be broken from left to right.
By the defined order of this law the standing flag of the Republic of
Armenia should be illuminated at night after sunset.

Article 8. Imitation of the Flag of the Republic of Armenia.
The flags of the NGOs and institutions of the Republic of Armenia
should differ from the flag of the Republic of Armenia.

Article 9. The Use of the Flag of the Republic of Armenia by the Armed
Forces and Other Troops.
The flag of the Republic of Armenia is raised at the locations of the
state government body, authorized by the Government of the Republic of
Armenia, military units, Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and
separate subdivisions of other troops, as well as locations of other
troops during ceremonies and official events, i.e. military parade,
parade, oath of allegiance, holiday events and other special events.
According to the statutes of the armed forces of the Republic of
Armenia, in the foreseen cases, while taking out the fighting flag of
the military unit the flag of the Republic of Armenia is also taken
out.
The order for taking out and locating the flag of the Republic of
Armenia simultaneously with the fighting flag of the military unit is
defined by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

Article 10. The Responsibility in Case the Requirements of this Law
are Breached.
The breach of the requirements of this law causes responsibility by
the defined order.

Article 11. The Validity of the Law.
This Law is valid from the 10th day following its official publication.

Article 12. Transitional Provisions.
Before the establishment of the Control Chamber of the Republic of
Armenia the relevant requirement of the 5th part of Article 3 is
functioning for the President of the Control Chamber of the Republic
of Armenia.
The moment this Law is in function the Decree of 30 September 1967 of
the Supreme Council Presidency of ASSR on "Defining the Statute of the
ASSR Flag" and the HN-0076 Law of the Republic of Armenia of 24 August
1990 on "State Flag of the Republic of Armenia" become invalid.

Today in the National Assembly state-legal questions committee
session was discussed the proposal of
deputies Armen Ashotyan and Karen Avagyan to hold some supplements to the "Law on the Flag of Armenia".
According to the National Assembly official wesite, Armen Ashotyan said that while
drafting the law they took into account the proposals and the comments
of the Government and the National Assembly.
According to the project it is offered to raise the Armenian flag from
the left hand if there is another foreign flag, if the number of flags
is odd number then the Armenian flag should be in the middle of them,
if the flags are pairs then the Armenian one should be in the left
hand from the middle.

Ivan Sache, 21 March 2008

Colours of the flag

Some alternative interpretations of the colors
of the Armenian flag are:
1) A rainbow over Mount Ararat.
2) Red is the blood shed and the whole is derived from the colours of
the banners of the former Kingdom of Cilicia.
3) A simple description of the colours says: vermilion red,
ultramarine blue and apricot orange.
4) A friend told me that he has heard: red: blood shed; blue:
eternal land of Armenia; orange: courage.
5) Finally a source not to be neglected, the Embassy of the Republic
of Armenia in Ottawa (although I find this one very awkward): red:
the sun's energy; blue: the clear sky; orange: the wheat at
harvest.

Note that 1), 2), 3), and 4) are not in contradiction:
1) gives the impression given by the flag as a whole.
2) explains the origins.
3) describes the colours precisely.
And 4) gives a meaning to each colour.
However, 5) is clearly in contradiction with 4), but also with 2).

Luc Baronian, 5 May 1997

The protocol manual for the London 2012 Olympics (Flags and Anthems Manual London 2012 [loc12]) provides recommendations for national flag designs. Each NOC was sent an image of the flag, including the PMS shades, for their approval by LOCOG. Once this was obtained, LOCOG produced a 60 x 90 cm version of the flag for further approval. So, while these specs may not be the official, government, version of each flag, they are certainly what the NOC believed the flag to be.
For Armenia, PMS 485 red, reflex blue, 1375 yellow. The vertical version is simply the flag turned through 90 degrees anti-clockwise.

Ian Sumner, 10 October 2012

Variant of the flag shown on a postage stamp

The flag of Armenia as shown on a postage stamp - Image by António Martins, 25 May 2008

In 1992, newly (re)-independent Armenia issued a stamp (0.20 dram; SG 255) featuring
the national flag depicted in crayon style as a fluttering view.
The flag shows unusual specifications, with apparent proportions of 2:3 instead of the official 1:2 and color shades for blue and orange much
lighter than expected, the latter being indeed medium yellow instead.